If there was one WNBA team that underwent some major changes over the last few months, it is the Connecticut Suns. The franchise parted ways with star coach Stephanie White after she led the team to two Semi-Final appearances. If that wasn’t enough, the team then traded veteran Alyssa Thomas to the Phoenix Mercury despite having played every game, since being drafted back in 2014, for the Sun. Amid these tumultuous times, one young star was not concerned about what the future would hold for her. After all, she had done whatever she could earlier on the court to secure her place within the team.
Connecticut Sun forward Caitlin Bickle was recently interviewed by EssentiallySports’ very own Andrew Whitelaw. As the conversation progressed, she was asked about the training camp contract she signed with the Sun in January 2025. Bickle revealed that she was excited. Especially since “a lot of changes within the W this year, and a lot of players moving around, and teams making changes”. Coming off her surgery recovery, Bickle wanted to make her mark in the WNBA. Especially after having already spent one season playing for Eleftheira Moschatou in Greece. When she finally got the opportunity with the Sun, she felt that a little extra effort she had placed earlier helped to seal the deal.
“I think the past couple of years, I’ve always just done what they’ve asked, I’ve worked as hard as I could” Bickle revealed. “Did anything that they asked of me, and so, I’m hoping that, you know, this year, maybe I can kind of take it a step up, and perform how they’d want me to perform”.
February 25 2023: Baylor Lady Bears forward Caitlin Bickle 51 during the 1st half of the NCAA, College League, USA basketball between Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Baylor Lady Bears at Ferrell Center Waco, Texas. /CSM Waco US – ZUMAc04_ 20230225_zaf_c04_392 Copyright: xMatthewxLynchx
Caitlin Bickle had declared for the WNBA draft back in 2023. She was not selected for the same. However, she was given a training camp contract with the Connecticut Sun only a few days later. Even before the regular season could begin, unfortunately, she was waived! After a season in Greece, she got a chance to return to the Sun after signing a seven-day contract on July 20th, 2024. Having lost a chance earlier, Bickle learned a lesson. She gave her all, as she mentioned, by working hard, and doing what she was told to do. Eventually, Bickle received smaller contracts until the Sun eventually signed her to a rest-of-season contract on September 2nd, 2024. Now, once again holding a training camp contract, it is evident that the team’s trust in the player exists.
Could the training contract be a way for the Connecticut Sun to hold on to what they knew they could? After all, there is no denying that Stephanie White and Alyssa Thomas’s exit put the team in a precarious position. This may be why the Sun went through a ‘front-office’ drama with another star player.
Marina Mabrey highlighted her reaction to the alleged ignored trade request in now deleted post
By February, it was clear that things were not looking good for the Connecticut Sun. The same roster that made the semi-finals run just last October had been divided. Five of the starters lost, and the head coach resigned. Therefore, in light of this drama, anyone would want to leave the team, right? Well, Marina Mabrey tried. When she couldn’t succeed, she made her frustration known.
On February 18th, a page on X shared a post that read: “Marina Mabrey’s IG story (crying emoji) (that’s Jennifer Rizzotti – President of the Connecticut Sun)”. It was a screenshot of a then-deleted post and IG story by the Suns’ guard. “Interesting,” she had written above a post that showed Rizzotti and her sharing a hug. This post had come amid official reports that Mabrey had requested a trade from the Sun. Officials from the team had initially declined to comment. Later, however, team president Jennifer Rizzotti defended the decision to keep the player. She stated, “It’s rooted in a desire to build around her”. The player’s agent, Marcus Crenshaw, was certainly not pleased. In an open statement to ESPN, he stated “Why would anyone try to force someone to play on their team when they don’t want to be there? It’s counterproductive in a ton of ways.”
Marina Mabrey’s IG story (that’s Jennifer Rizzotti – President of the Connecticut Sun). pic.twitter.com/VSjwedJ0V1
— NV (@nv00006) February 18, 2025
Well, let’s just hope Caitlin Bickle does not get too caught up if any existing drama continues to run amidst the Connecticut Sun franchise. After all, she did work hard to get there.
The post Connecticut Star Drops Major Sun Admission Amid Stephanie White’s Exit & Front Office Drama (Exclusive) appeared first on EssentiallySports.
